#AR factoring company

[arfactoringcompanies]

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[mostlysignssomeportents]

The enshittification of garage-door openers reveals a vast and deadly rot

I'll be at the Studio City branch of the LA Public Library on Monday, November 13 at 1830hPT to launch my new novel, The Lost Cause. There'll be a reading, a talk, a surprise guest (!!) and a signing, with books on sale. Tell your friends! Come on down!

How could this happen? Owners of Chamberlain MyQ automatic garage door openers just woke up to discover that the company had confiscated valuable features overnight, and that there was nothing they could do about it.

Oh, we know what happened, technically speaking. Chamberlain shut off the API for its garage-door openers, which breaks their integration with home automation systems like Home Assistant. The company even announced that it was doing this, calling the integration an "unauthorized usage" of its products, though the "unauthorized" parties in this case are the people who own Chamberlain products:

https://chamberlaingroup.com/press/a-message-about-our-decision-to-prevent-unauthorized-usage-of-myq

We even know why Chamberlain did this. As Ars Technica's Ron Amadeo points out, shutting off the API is a way for Chamberlain to force its customers to use its ad-beshitted, worst-of-breed app, so that it can make a few pennies by nonconsensually monetizing its customers' eyeballs:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/11/chamberlain-blocks-smart-garage-door-opener-from-working-with-smart-homes/

But how did this happen? How did a giant company like Chamberlain come to this enshittening juncture, in which it felt empowered to sabotage the products it had already sold to its customers? How can this be legal? How can it be good for business? How can the people who made this decision even look themselves in the mirror?

To answer these questions, we must first consider the forces that discipline companies, acting against the impulse to enshittify their products and services. There are four constraints on corporate conduct:

I. Competition. The fear of losing your business to a rival can stay even the most sociopathic corporate executive's hand.

II. Regulation. The fear of being fined, criminally sanctioned, or banned from doing business can check the greediest of leaders.

III. Capability. Corporate executives can dream up all kinds of awful ways to shift value from your side of the ledger to their own, but they can only do the things that are technically feasible.

IV. Self-help. The possibility of customers modifying, reconfiguring or altering their products to restore lost functionality or neutralize antifeatures carries an implied threat to vendors. If a printer company's anti-generic-ink measures drives a customer to jailbreak their printers, the original manufacturer's connection to that customer is permanently severed, as the customer creates a durable digital connection to a rival.

When companies act in obnoxious, dishonest, shitty ways, they aren't merely yielding to temptation – they are evading these disciplining forces. Thus, the Great Enshittening we are living through doesn't reflect an increase in the wickedness of corporate leadership. Rather, it represents a moment in which each of these disciplining factors have been gutted by specific policies.

This is good news, actually. We used to put down rat poison and we didn't have a rat problem. Then we stopped putting down rat poison and rats are eating us alive. That's not a nice feeling, but at least we know at least one way of addressing it – we can start putting down poison again. That is, we can start enforcing the rules that we stopped enforcing, in living memory. Having a terrible problem is no fun, but the best kind of terrible problem to have is one that you know a solution to.

As it happens, Chamberlain is a neat microcosm for all the bad policy choices that created the Era of Enshittification. Let's go through them:

Competition: Chamberlain doesn't have to worry about competition, because it is owned by a private equity fund that "rolled up" all of Chamberlain's major competitors into a single, giant firm. Most garage-door opener brands are actually Chamberlain, including "LiftMaster, Chamberlain, Merlin, and Grifco":

https://www.lakewoodgaragedoor.biz/blog/the-history-of-garage-door-openers

This is a pretty typical PE rollup, and it exploits a bug in US competition law called "Antitrust's Twilight Zone":

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/16/schumpeterian-terrorism/#deliberately-broken

When companies buy each other, they are subject to "merger scrutiny," a set of guidelines that the FTC and DoJ Antitrust Division use to determine whether the outcome is likely to be bad for competition. These rules have been pretty lax since the Reagan administration, but they've currently being revised to make them substantially more strict:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-and-ftc-seek-comment-draft-merger-guidelines

One of the blind spots in these merger guidelines is an exemption for mergers valued at less than $101m. Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, these fly under the radar, evading merger scrutiny. That means that canny PE companies can roll up dozens and dozens of standalone businesses, like funeral homes, hospital beds, magic mushrooms, youth addiction treatment centers, mobile home parks, nursing homes, physicians’ practices, local newspapers, or e-commerce sellers:

http://www.economicliberties.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Serial-Acquisitions-Working-Paper-R4-2.pdf

By titrating the purchase prices, PE companies – like Blackstone, owners of Chamberlain and all the other garage-door makers – can acquire a monopoly without ever raising a regulatory red flag.

But antitrust enforcers aren't helpless. Under (the long dormant) Section 7 of the Clayton Act, competition regulators can block mergers that lead to "incipient monopolization." The incipiency standard prevented monopolies from forming from 1914, when the Clayton Act passed, until the Reagan administration. We used to put down rat poison, and we didn't have rats. We stopped, and rats are gnawing our faces off. We still know where the rat poison is – maybe we should start putting it down again.

On to regulation. How is it possible for Chamberlain to sell you a garage-door opener that has an API and works with your chosen home automation system, and then unilaterally confiscate that valuable feature? Shouldn't regulation protect you from this kind of ripoff?

It should, but it doesn't. Instead, we have a bunch of regulations that protect Chamberlain from you. Think of binding arbitration, which allows Chamberlain to force you to click through an "agreement" that takes away your right to sue them or join a class-action suit:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/20/benevolent-dictators/#felony-contempt-of-business-model

But regulation could protect you from Chamberlain. Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act allows the FTC to ban any "unfair and deceptive" conduct. This law has been on the books since 1914, but Section 5 has been dormant, forgotten and unused, for decades. The FTC's new dynamo chair, Lina Khan, has revived it, and is use it like a can-opener to free Americans who've been trapped by abusive conduct:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/10/the-courage-to-govern/#whos-in-charge

Khan's used Section 5 powers to challenge privacy invasions, noncompete clauses, and other corporate abuses – the bait-and-switch tactics of Chamberlain are ripe for a Section 5 case. If you buy a gadget because it has five features and then the vendor takes two of them away, they are clearly engaged in "unfair and deceptive" conduct.

On to capability. Since time immemorial, corporate leaders have fetishized "flexibility" in their business arrangements – like the ability to do "dynamic pricing" that changes how much you pay for something based on their guess about how much you are willing to pay. But this impulse to play shell games runs up against the hard limits of physical reality: grocers just can't send an army of rollerskated teenagers around the store to reprice everything as soon as a wealthy or desperate-looking customer comes through the door. They're stuck with crude tactics like doubling the price of a flight that doesn't include a Saturday stay as a way of gouging business travelers on an expense account.

With any shell-game, the quickness of the hand deceives the eye. Corporate crooks armed with computers aren't smarter or more wicked than their analog forebears, but they are faster. Digital tools allow companies to alter the "business logic" of their services from instant to instant, in highly automated ways:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/19/twiddler/

The monopoly coalition has successfully argued that this endless "twiddling" should not be constrained by privacy, labor or consumer protection law. Without these constraints, corporate twiddlers can engage in all kinds of ripoffs, like wage theft and algorithmic wage discrimination:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/12/algorithmic-wage-discrimination/#fishers-of-men

Twiddling is key to the Darth Vader MBA ("I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it further"), in which features are confiscated from moment to moment, without warning or recourse:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/26/hit-with-a-brick/#graceful-failure

There's no reason to accept the premise that violating your privacy, labor rights or consumer rights with a computer is so different from analog ripoffs that existing laws don't apply. The unconstrained twiddling of digital ripoff artists is a plague on billions of peoples' lives, and any enforcer who sticks up for our rights will have an army of supporters behind them.

Finally, there's the fear of self-help measures. All the digital flexibility that tech companies use to take value away can be used to take it back, too. The whole modern history of digital computers is the history of "adversarial interoperability," in which the sleazy antifeatures of established companies are banished through reverse-engineering, scraping, bots and other forms of technological guerrilla warfare:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/10/adversarial-interoperability

Adversarial interoperability represents a serious threat to established business. If you're a printer company gouging on toner, your customers might defect to a rival that jailbreaks your security measures. That's what happened to Lexmark, who lost a case against the toner-refilling company Static Controls, which went on to buy Lexmark:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/06/felony-contempt-business-model-lexmarks-anti-competitive-legacy

Sure, your customers are busy and inattentive and you can degrade the quality of your product a lot before they start looking for ways out. But once they cross that threshold, you can lose them forever. That's what happened to Microsoft: the company made the tactical decision to produce a substandard version of Office for the Mac in a drive to get Mac users to switch to Windows. Instead, Apple made Iwork (Pages, Numbers and Keynote), which could read and write every Office file, and Mac users threw away Office, the only Microsoft product they owned, permanently severing their relationship to the company:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/06/adversarial-interoperability-reviving-elegant-weapon-more-civilized-age-slay

Today, companies can operate without worrying about this kind of self-help measure. There' a whole slew of IP rights that Chamberlain can enforce against you if you try to fix your garage-door opener yourself, or look to a competitor to sell you a product that restores the feature they took away:

https://locusmag.com/2020/09/cory-doctorow-ip/

Jailbreaking your Chamberlain gadget in order to make it answer to a rival's app involves bypassing a digital lock. Trafficking in a tool to break a digital lock is a felony under Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright, carrying a five-year prison sentence and a $500,000 fine.

In other words, it's not just that tech isn't regulated, allowing for endless twiddling against your privacy, consumer rights and labor rights. It's that tech is badly regulated, to permit unlimited twiddling by tech companies to take away your rightsand to prohibit any twiddling by you to take them back. The US government thumbs the scales against you, creating a regime that Jay Freeman aptly dubbed "felony contempt of business model":

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/23/how-to-fix-cars-by-breaking-felony-contempt-of-business-model/

All kinds of companies have availed themselves of this government-backed superpower. There's DRM – digital locks, covered by DMCA 1201 – in powered wheelchairs:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/06/when-drm-comes-your-wheelchair

In dishwashers:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/03/cassette-rewinder/#disher-bob

In treadmills:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/06/22/vapescreen/#jane-get-me-off-this-crazy-thing

In tractors:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/05/08/about-those-kill-switched-ukrainian-tractors/

It should come as no surprise to learn that Chamberlain has used DMCA 1201 to block interoperable garage door opener components:

https://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1233&context=iplr

That's how we arrived at this juncture, where a company like Chamberlain can break functionality its customers value highly, solely to eke out a minuscule new line of revenue by selling ads on their own app.

Chamberlain bought all its competitors.

Chamberlain operates in a regulatory environment that is extremely tolerant of unfair and deceptive practices. Worse: they can unilaterally take away your right to sue them, which means that if regulators don't bestir themselves to police Chamberlain, you are shit out of luck.

Chamberlain has endless flexibility to unilaterally alter its products' functionality, in fine-grained ways, even after you've purchased them.

Chamberlain can sue you if you try to exercise some of that same flexibility to protect yourself from their bad practices.

Combine all four of those factors, and of course Chamberlain is going to enshittify its products. Every company has had that one weaselly asshole at the product-planning table who suggests a petty grift like breaking every one of the company's customers' property to sell a few ads. But historically, the weasel lost the argument to others, who argued that making every existing customer furious would affect the company's bottom line, costing it sales and/or fines, and prompting customers to permanently sever their relationship with the company by seeking out and installing alternative software. Take away all the constraints on a corporation's worst impulses, and this kind of conduct is inevitable:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/28/microincentives-and-enshittification/

This isn't limited to Chamberlain. Without the discipline of competition, regulation, self-help measures or technological limitations, every industry in undergoing wholesale enshittification. It's not a coincidence that Chamberlain's grift involves a push to move users into its app. Because apps can't be reverse-engineered and modified without risking DMCA 1201 prosecution, forcing a user into an app is a tidy and reliable way to take away that user's rights.

Think about ad-blocking. One in four web users has installed an ad-blockers ("the biggest boycott in world history" -Doc Searls). Zero app users have installed app-blockers, because they don't exist, because making one is a felony. An app is just a web-page wrapped in enough IP to make it a crime to defend yourself against corporate predation:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/27/an-audacious-plan-to-halt-the-internets-enshittification-and-throw-it-into-reverse/

The temptation to enshitiffy isn't new, but the ability to do so without consequence is a modern phenomenon, the intersection of weak policy enforcement and powerful technology. Your car is autoenshittified, a rolling rent-seeking platform that spies on you and price-gouges you:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/24/rent-to-pwn/#kitt-is-a-demon

Cars are in an uncontrolled skid over Enshittification Cliff. Honda, Toyota, VW and GM all sell cars with infotainment systems that harvest your connected phone's text-messages and send them to the corporation for data-mining. What's more, a judge in Washington state just ruled that this is legal:

https://therecord.media/class-action-lawsuit-cars-text-messages-privacy

While there's no excuse for this kind of sleazy conduct, we can reasonably anticipate that if our courts would punish companies for engaging in it, they might be able to resist the temptation. No wonder Mozilla's latest Privacy Not Included research report called cars "the worst product category we have ever reviewed":

https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/articles/its-official-cars-are-the-worst-product-category-we-have-ever-reviewed-for-privacy/

I mean, Nissan tries to infer facts about your sex life and sells those inferences to marketing companies:

https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/nissan/

But the OG digital companies are the masters of enshittification. Microsoft has been at this game for longer than anyone, and every day brings a fresh way that Microsoft has worsened its products without fear of consequence. The latest? You can't delete your OneDrive account until you provide an acceptable explanation for your disloyalty:

https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/8/23952878/microsoft-onedrive-windows-close-app-notification

It's tempting to think that the cruelty is the point, but it isn't. It's almost never the point. The point is power and money. Unscrupulous businesses have found ways to make money by making their products worse since the industrial revolution. Here's Jules Dupuis, writing about 19th century French railroads:

It is not because of the few thousand francs which would have to be spent to put a roof over the third-class carriages or to upholster the third-class seats that some company or other has open carriages with wooden benches. What the company is trying to do is to prevent the passengers who can pay the second class fare from traveling third class; it hits the poor, not because it wants to hurt them, but to frighten the rich. And it is again for the same reason that the companies, having proved almost cruel to the third-class passengers and mean to the second-class ones, become lavish in dealing with first-class passengers. Having refused the poor what is necessary, they give the rich what is superfluous.

https://www.tumblr.com/mostlysignssomeportents/731357317521719296/having-refused-the-poor-what-is-necessary-they

But as bad as all this is, let me remind you about the good part: we know how to stop companies from enshittifying their products. We know what disciplines their conduct: competition, regulation, capability and self-help measures. Yes, rats are gnawing our eyeballs, but we know which rat-poison to use, and where to put it to control those rats.

Competition, regulation, constraint and self-help measures all backstop one another, and while one or a few can make a difference, they are most powerful when they're all mobilized in concert. Think of the failure of the EU's landmark privacy law, the GDPR. While the GDPR proved very effective against bottom-feeding smaller ad-tech companies, the worse offenders, Meta and Google, have thumbed their noses at it.

This was enabled in part by the companies' flying an Irish flag of convenience, maintaining the pretense that they have to be regulated in a notorious corporate crime-haven:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/15/finnegans-snooze/#dirty-old-town

That let them get away with all kinds of shenanigans, like ignoring the GDPR's requirement that you should be able to easily opt out of data-collection without having to go through cumbersome "cookie consent" dialogs or losing access to the service as punishment for declining to be tracked.

As the noose has tightened around these surveillance giants, they're continuing to play games. Meta now says that the only way to opt out of data-collection in the EU is to pay for the service:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/30/markets-remaining-irrational/#steins-law

This is facially illegal under the GDPR. Not only are they prohibited from punishing you for opting out of collection, but the whole scheme ignores the nature of private data collection. If Facebook collects the fact that you and I are friends, but I never opted into data-collection, they have violated the GDPR, even if you were coerced into granting consent:

https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/11/the-pay-or-consent-challenge-for-platform-regulators.html

The GDPR has been around since 2016 and Google and Meta are still invading 500 million Europeans' privacy. This latest delaying tactic could add years to their crime-spree before they are brought to justice.

But most of this surveillance is only possible because so much of how you interact with Google and Meta is via an app, and an app is just a web-page that's a felony to make an ad-blocker for. If the EU were to legalize breaking DRM – repealing Article 6 of the 2001 Copyright Directive – then we wouldn't have to wait for the European Commission to finally wrestle these two giant companies to the ground. Instead, EU companies could make alternative clients for all of Google and Meta's services that don't spy on you, without suffering the fate of OG App, which tried this last winter and was shut down by "felony contempt of business model":

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/05/battery-vampire/#drained

Enshittification is demoralizing. To quote @wilwheaton, every update to the services we use inspires "dread of 'How will this complicate things as I try to maintain privacy and sanity in a world that demands I have this thing to operate?'"

https://wilwheaton.tumblr.com/post/698603648058556416/cory-doctorow-if-you-see-this-and-have-thoughts

But there are huge natural constituencies for the four disciplining forces that keep enshittification at bay.

Remember, Antitrust's Twilight Zone doesn't just allow rollups of garage-door opener companies – it's also poison for funeral homes, hospital beds, magic mushrooms, youth addiction treatment centers, mobile home parks, nursing homes, physicians’ practices, local newspapers, or e-commerce sellers.

The Binding Arbitration scam that stops Chamberlain customers from suing the company also stops Uber drivers from suing over stolen wages, Turbotax customers from suing over fraud, and many other victims of corporate crime from getting a day in court.

The failure to constrain twiddling to protect privacy, labor rights and consumer rights enables a host of abuses, from stalking, doxing and SWATting to wage theft and price gouging:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/06/attention-rents/#consumer-welfare-queens

And Felony Contempt of Business Model is used to screw you over every time you refill your printer, run your dishwasher, or get your Iphone's screen replaced.

The actions needed to halt and reverse this enshittification are well understood, and the partisans for taking those actions are too numerous to count. It's taken a long time for all those individuals suffering under corporate abuses to crystallize into a movement, but at long last, it's happening.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/09/lead-me-not-into-temptation/#chamberlain

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[mariacallous]

One of the things enterprise storage and destruction company Iron Mountain does is handle the archiving of the media industry's vaults. What it has been seeing lately should be a wake-up call: Roughly one-fifth of the hard disk drives dating to the 1990s it was sent are entirely unreadable.

Music industry publication Mix spoke with the people in charge of backing up the entertainment industry. The resulting tale is part explainer on how music is so complicated to archive now, part warning about everyone's data stored on spinning disks.

"In our line of work, if we discover an inherent problem with a format, it makes sense to let everybody know," Robert Koszela, global director for studio growth and strategic initiatives at Iron Mountain, told Mix. "It may sound like a sales pitch, but it's not; it's a call for action."

Hard drives gained popularity over spooled magnetic tape as digital audio workstations, mixing and editing software, and the perceived downsides of tape, including deterioration from substrate separation and fire. But hard drives present their own archival problems. Standard hard drives were also not designed for long-term archival use. You can almost never decouple the magnetic disks from the reading hardware inside, so if either fails, the whole drive dies.

There are also general computer storage issues, including the separation of samples and finished tracks, or proprietary file formats requiring archival versions of software. Still, Iron Mountain tells Mix that “if the disk platters spin and aren’t damaged," it can access the content.

But "if it spins" is becoming a big question mark. Musicians and studios now digging into their archives to remaster tracks often find that drives, even when stored at industry-standard temperature and humidity, have failed in some way, with no partial recovery option available.

“It’s so sad to see a project come into the studio, a hard drive in a brand-new case with the wrapper and the tags from wherever they bought it still in there,” Koszela says. “Next to it is a case with the safety drive in it. Everything’s in order. And both of them are bricks.”

Entropy Wins

Mix's passing along of Iron Mountain's warning hit Hacker News earlier this week, which spurred other tales of faith in the wrong formats. The gist of it: You cannot trust any medium, so you copy important things over and over, into fresh storage. "Optical media rots, magnetic media rots and loses magnetic charge, bearings seize, flash storage loses charge, etc.," writes user abracadaniel. "Entropy wins, sometimes much faster than you’d expect."

There is discussion of how SSDs are not archival at all; how floppy disk quality varied greatly between the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s; how Linear Tape-Open, a format specifically designed for long-term tape storage, loses compatibility over successive generations; how the binder sleeves we put our CD-Rs and DVD-Rs in have allowed them to bend too much and stop being readable.

Knowing that hard drives will eventually fail is nothing new. Ars wrote about the five stages of hard drive death, including denial, back in 2005. Last year, backup company Backblaze shared failure data on specific drives, showing that drives that fail tend to fail within three years, that no drive was totally exempt, and that time does, generally, wear down all drives. Google's server drive data showed in 2007 that HDD failure was mostly unpredictable, and that temperatures were not really the deciding factor.

So Iron Mountain's admonition to music companies is yet another warning about something we've already heard. But it's always good to get some new data about just how fragile a good archive really is.

[abboudlawfirm-omaha]

Can I File a Personal Injury Claim for Injuries at a Music Festival?

Attending a music festival is an exciting experience, filled with live performances, a lively atmosphere, and the chance to create unforgettable memories. However, accidents can sometimes interrupt the fun, leaving you with injuries and questions about your rights. If you’ve been hurt at a music festival, you might wonder whether you can file a personal injury claim. This article explores the key aspects of personal injury claims related to music festival injuries and what steps you can take to protect your rights.

Understanding Liability at Music Festivals

Music festivals can present various hazards, from overcrowding and unsafe equipment to negligence by staff or other attendees. To determine whether you have a valid personal injury claim, it's essential to understand liability and who may be responsible for your injuries.

Event Organizers: Responsible for planning and managing the festival, organizers are expected to implement safety measures like crowd control, proper signage, and emergency protocols.

Venue Owners: The property owner or operator must maintain a safe environment for attendees, addressing hazards such as uneven walkways or structural issues.

Security Personnel: Security teams are responsible for monitoring the event and responding promptly to incidents that could compromise safety.

Vendors: Food, drink, and merchandise vendors must ensure that their operations do not pose risks, such as unsafe food handling or poorly set up equipment.

In some cases, the concept of comparative negligence might apply. For example, if your actions contributed to the incident, your compensation may be reduced. However, this doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from pursuing a claim. Consulting with a personal injury attorney can clarify your options.

Assessing the Viability of Your Claim

Not every injury sustained at a music festival qualifies for compensation. Several factors affect the viability of your claim:

Circumstances of the Incident: Was the injury caused by negligence, such as poorly maintained facilities or insufficient crowd control?

Severity of Injuries: More serious injuries are more likely to result in significant claims.

Establishing Negligence: You must demonstrate that the responsible party failed to meet a duty of care, directly leading to your injury.

A personal injury attorney can help evaluate these factors and guide you on the best course of action.

Calculating Damages

When pursuing a personal injury claim, it’s essential to quantify your damages accurately. Damages may include:

Medical Expenses: Costs for emergency care, follow-up treatment, and rehabilitation.

Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to missed work during recovery.

Pain and Suffering: Financial compensation for physical pain and emotional distress.

Mental Anguish: Injuries can have a lasting psychological impact, which may also be compensated.

Steps in Filing a Personal Injury Claim

The claims process for festival-related injuries can be complex due to the involvement of multiple parties. Below is a general outline of the process:

Consult an Attorney: A legal professional can evaluate your case and advise you on the next steps.

Gather Evidence: Collect photographs, witness statements, medical records, and any other documentation that supports your claim.

Send a Demand Letter: A formal request for compensation is sent to the responsible party or their insurance company.

Negotiate a Settlement: Many claims are resolved through negotiation before reaching court.

File a Lawsuit: If negotiations fail, filing a lawsuit may be necessary to seek fair compensation.

The Importance of Acting Quickly

Every state has a statute of limitations, which sets a deadline for filing a personal injury claim. Missing this deadline could result in losing your right to compensation. Acting promptly after your injury ensures that evidence is preserved, witnesses are available, and deadlines are met.

If you’ve been injured at a music festival, it’s essential to take the following steps:

Seek medical attention immediately to address your injuries and document them.

Report the incident to festival staff, security, or the venue management.

Gather evidence, including photos, videos, and contact information for witnesses.

Consult a personal injury attorney to evaluate your case and discuss your options.

Navigating a personal injury claim can feel overwhelming, but understanding your rights and the process can make all the difference. By taking the right steps, you can focus on your recovery while pursuing the compensation you deserve.

[fatihulusoy]

Greetings yet again folks! Before today's news i should ask this: what would you think when wearable tech is mentioned? AR/VR glasses? A smart watch? a pair of fancy glasses? nfc based products or was it something else for you?

what if i tell you there is a battery that is so stretchable and bendable that can be tailored between linings of your clothes now what would you think?

Meet the age of stretchable batteries people!

in that case i should mention when people of today was so busy with nonsense politics and rightist or leftist ideas there were quite a race between the biggest tech schools and companies for manufacturing this tech such as apple, samsung, stanford, Yokohama National University, zotach (japan based wearable tech company), sydney's UNCW, Australian research comity and more.. you get the idea..

so what is this tech in its core?

basically building more softer and more long term reliable materials to replace our common daily use batteries

in term of materials it nearly uses our common li-on batteries but these are mainly works like electrodes and often use polymers, hydrogels, and other flexible materials for electrodes and electrolytes. we can see in recent inovations include the use of stretchable conductors like gold nanowires or carbon nanotubes.

BUT what these mambo, jambo, wombo, combo means for public eye?

much longer active use time, higher adaptability, flexible form factor yet lower energy and power density.

for now this tech has been used in certain medical implant cases, wearable techs, tv's, and watches for now but there is some attempts to imply this in to textile industry recently..

and japan is seems like ahead of the race for now with Zotac’s VR GO 4.0 backpack

this is a backpack pc and its power source is tailored between in entire foam/ fiber pad. this "pc" is specifically made for VR/AR and streaming which includes

11th Gen Intel Core Mobile i7-11800H processor, an NVIDIA RTX A4500 graphics card with 20GB of GDDR6 memory and 7,168 CUDA cores, 16GB (32GB maximum) of DDR4 RAM, an M.2 slot for storage, a 2.5′ SATA 3 hard drive/SSD bay for storage, three USB 3.1 Type-A ports, a single USB 3.1 type-C port, DisplayPort, and a 12V DC outlet, all powered by dual 86.4 watt-hour hot-swappable batteries.

like i said this tech is still under developement stage and people still trying to make this tech better than other compettitives...

time will show us what will it gonna be turn out at the end..

lastly.. see you guys tomorrow...

sources:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202204457

[heathermarielocke]

Effective XMLTV EPG Solutions for VR & CGI Use

Effective XMLTV EPG Guide Solutions and Techniques for VR and CGI Adoption. In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, effective xml data epg guide solutions are essential for enhancing user experiences in virtual reality (VR) and computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Understanding how to implement these solutions not only improves content delivery but also boosts viewer engagement.

This post will explore practical techniques and strategies to optimize XMLTV EPG guides, making them more compatible with VR and CGI technologies.

Proven XMLTV EPG Strategies for VR and CGI Success

Several other organizations have successfully integrated VR CGI into their training and operational processes.

For example, Vodafone has recreated their UK Pavilion in VR to enhance employee training on presentation skills, complete with AI-powered feedback and progress tracking.

Similarly, Johnson & Johnson has developed VR simulations for training surgeons on complex medical procedures, significantly improving learning outcomes compared to traditional methods. These instances highlight the scalability and effectiveness of VR CGI in creating detailed, interactive training environments across different industries.

Challenges and Solutions in Adopting VR CGI Technology

Adopting Virtual Reality (VR) and Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) technologies presents a set of unique challenges that can impede their integration into XMLTV technology blogs.

One of the primary barriers is the significant upfront cost associated with 3D content creation. Capturing real-world objects and converting them into detailed 3D models requires substantial investment, which can be prohibitive for many content creators.

Additionally, the complexity of developing VR and AR software involves specialized skills and resources, further escalating the costs and complicating the deployment process.

Hardware Dependencies and User Experience Issues

Most AR/VR experiences hinge heavily on the capabilities of the hardware used. Current devices often have a limited field of view, typically around 90 degrees, which can detract from the immersive experience that is central to VR's appeal.

Moreover, these devices, including the most popular VR headsets, are frequently tethered, restricting user movement and impacting the natural flow of interaction.

Usability issues such as bulky, uncomfortable headsets and the high-power consumption of AR/VR devices add layers of complexity to user adoption.

For many first-time users, the initial experience can be daunting, with motion sickness and headaches being common complaints. These factors collectively pose significant hurdles to the widespread acceptance and enjoyment of VR and AR technologies.

Solutions and Forward-Looking Strategies

Despite these hurdles, there are effective solutions and techniques for overcoming many of the barriers to VR and CGI adoption.

Companies such as VPL Research is one of the first pioneer in the creation of developed and sold virtual reality products.

For example, improving the design and aesthetics of VR technology may boost their attractiveness and comfort, increasing user engagement.

Furthermore, technological developments are likely to cut costs over time, making VR and AR more accessible.

Strategic relationships with tech titans like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, which are always inventing in AR, can help to improve xmltv guide epg for iptv blog experiences.

Virtual Reality (VR) and Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) hold incredible potential for various industries, but many face challenges in adopting these technologies.

Understanding the effective solutions and techniques for overcoming barriers to VR and CGI adoption is crucial for companies looking to innovate.

Practical Tips for Content Creators

To optimize the integration of VR and CGI technologies in xmltv epg blogs, content creators should consider the following practical tips:

Performance Analysis

Profiling Tools: Utilize tools like Unity Editor's Profiler and Oculus' Performance Head Hub Display to monitor VR application performance. These tools help in identifying and addressing performance bottlenecks.

Custom FPS Scripts: Implement custom scripts to track frames per second in real-time, allowing for immediate adjustments and optimization.

Optimization Techniques

3D Model Optimization: Reduce the triangle count and use similar materials across models to decrease rendering time.

Lighting and Shadows: Convert real-time lights to baked or mixed and utilize Reflection and Light Probes to enhance visual quality without compromising performance.

Camera Settings: Optimize camera settings by adjusting the far plane distance and enabling features like Frustum and Occlusion Culling.

Building and Testing

Platform-Specific Builds: Ensure that the VR application is built and tested on intended platforms, such as desktop or Android, to guarantee optimal performance across different devices.

Iterative Testing: Regularly test new builds to identify any issues early in the development process, allowing for smoother final deployments.

By adhering to these guidelines, creators can enhance the immersive experience of their XMLTV blogs, making them more engaging and effective in delivering content.

Want to learn more? You can hop over to this website to have a clear insights into how to elevate your multimedia projects and provide seamless access to EPG channels.

[winklix]

How Much Does React Native App Development Cost in California?

With the growing demand for mobile applications, businesses are increasingly opting for cross-platform solutions like React Native to reduce development time and costs. California, being a tech hub, has a vibrant ecosystem of app development companies, but the cost of development can vary significantly based on several factors. In this blog, we’ll explore the cost of React Native app development in California and what influences the pricing.

Factors Influencing React Native App Development Cost

1. Complexity of the App

The complexity of your app plays a crucial role in determining the cost. Apps can be categorized into three levels of complexity:

Simple Apps – Basic apps with minimal features, such as a calculator or to-do list. ($10,000 - $30,000)

Medium Complexity Apps – Apps with additional functionalities like user authentication, API integration, and database management. ($30,000 - $80,000)

Complex Apps – Feature-rich apps with real-time data sync, AI, AR/VR, or blockchain integration. ($80,000 - $200,000+)

2. UI/UX Design

An intuitive and appealing UI/UX is essential for user engagement. Custom designs and animations can increase costs but significantly improve user experience. UI/UX design costs in California typically range from $5,000 to $30,000depending on complexity.

3. Development Team

Hiring a development team in California is costlier than in many other regions due to high labor costs. The pricing varies based on the team’s experience:

Freelancers – $30 - $100 per hour

Small Agencies – $50 - $150 per hour

Established Development Firms – $100 - $250 per hour

4. Backend Development & Third-Party Integrations

If your app requires a strong backend, the cost increases. Cloud-based solutions like AWS, Firebase, or custom-built servers influence pricing. Additionally, integrating third-party services (payment gateways, APIs, analytics tools) can add $5,000 - $50,000 to the development cost.

5. Maintenance & Updates

Post-launch maintenance is essential for app stability. Maintenance costs can range from 15-20% of the total development cost per year to fix bugs, update features, and ensure compatibility with the latest OS versions.

Estimated Cost Breakdown for React Native App Development in California

Basic App Development - $10,000 - $30,000

Medium Complexity App - $30,000 - $80,000

Complex App Development - $80,000 - $200,000+

UI/UX Design$5,000 - $30,000

Backend & Integrations - $5,000 - $50,000

Maintenance (Annual) - 15-20% of dev cost

Ways to Reduce React Native App Development Cost

Prioritize MVP Development – Focus on a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to validate the idea before investing heavily.

Outsource Development – Hiring offshore or nearshore teams can reduce costs while maintaining quality.

Utilize Pre-built Solutions – Use pre-existing UI components and third-party integrations to speed up development.

Choose a Cost-effective Development Partner – Partnering with an experienced yet cost-effective development firm ensures quality without overspending.

Final Thoughts

React Native app development costs in California can vary widely based on complexity, team expertise, and required features. While it’s a cost-effective alternative to native development, strategic planning is essential to optimize the budget. If you’re considering building a React Native app, consult a reputable development firm to get a tailored cost estimate based on your specific needs.

Need help with React Native app development? Contact us today for a free consultation!

[shadycollectorenemy]

Choosing the Right Roofing Material for Orlando's Climate Conditions

Introduction

When it relates to selecting the appropriate roofing product, particularly in a sun-soaked and also humid locale like Orlando, recognizing the distinct temperature circumstances is actually paramount. Orlando's climate designs-- characterized by rigorous summer warm, in season tornados, and also high humidity-- participate in a vital part in finding out which roofing components will stand up the test of your time.

In this complete manual, we'll explore several roofing alternatives tailored particularly for Orlando's weather. Our team'll talk about variables including toughness, electricity productivity, maintenance requirements, as roofing company orlando fl well as cost-effectiveness to help you create a notified decision. Thus allow's dive into the details!

Choosing the Right Roofing Component for Orlando's Weather Conditions

When selecting a roofing component for your business or house in Orlando, take into consideration several aspects that affect both efficiency and longevity. The secret is actually to find a balance between appearances as well as functions while making certain that your roofing can stand up to Fla's unique weather challenges.

What are actually the best Popular Forms Of Business Roofing Materials?

When checking out commercial roofing choices in Orlando, you'll run into many well-known styles:

TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin): Understood for its energy effectiveness and also affordability. EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer): A long lasting rubber roofing that's excellent for standard roofs. Metal Roofing: Deals exceptional sturdiness and solar reflectivity. Built-Up Roofing (BUR): Consists of various levels for included protection. Modified Bitumen: A pliable alternative along with really good basement waterproofing properties.

Each of these products possesses its personal set of perks and drawbacks depending upon your certain needs.

How Lengthy Do Business Roofing Systems Commonly Last?

The life-span of business roofing systems varies widely based upon the material used:

TPO: 15-30 years EPDM: 20-30 years Metal: 40-70 years Built-Up Roofing: 20-30 years Modified Bitumen: 10-20 years

Understanding these timetables allows home owner to consider ahead for upkeep or replacement.

What Factors Affect the Cost of Putting Up a Business Roof?

Several factors bring about the total installation price of an office roof covering:

Material Choice: Costs materials commonly come with a much higher price. Roof Size: Larger roof coverings need even more components and also labor. Labor Costs: Neighborhood work fees can dramatically impact costs. Building Accessibility: Difficult-to-reach places may acquire added charges. Existing Roof covering Condition: If an old roof covering requires extraction or repair prior to installment, count on incorporated expenses. How Usually Ought to an Office Rooftop be Inspected?

Regular evaluations ar

[sugudoe]

1, 6, 7, 9, 14, 18, 21, 24, 30, 32, 40

emy, love, i got too excited and started babbling .ᐟ ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🪷་༘

what are 3 things you’d say shaped you into who you are?

morbid as it is, i believe my depression and anxiety are the two major factors, specially this last few months, it’s getting difficult as of late, but fortunately i have the third thing, which is love. i might have problems with loving my own life, but i love others and it makes worth living. there are greater things expecting me, so i keep being this optimistic, gentle and try hard person.

what’s the best and worst part of being online/a creator?

the best thing, without a doubt, it’s this whole community of strangers that follow me, likes my stuff and interact with it. any time i see a comment it turns into fuel for my writing, and therefore i keep making more and more non stopping. the worst part for me, would be my strong desire to keep getting better than what i was yesterday, so i burn my brains and my eyes with editing a new theme every night, writing until my fingers and arms go numb and the feeling of believing no one likes it. i had a talk with another creator this week, about this fear of never growing or making people hate what i do, it’s silly, but it has been plaguing me for a few weeks now.

what scares you the most and why?

be stuck. i have many goals, had always been a wanderer in my own mind, creating the life of my dreams, and it petrifies me the idea to never conquer them. to see myself in the future living something i did not plan or created, to be unhappy and grey, makes me very very scared.

tell a story about your childhood.

i don’t remember much of it, so i’ll tell you this one from before my birth. my mother was on her way to clip her tubes, and found out she was pregnant with not only me, but a boy as well, her biggest dream. she then decided to trick my older sibling, saying if the baby is a girl, my sibling can pick the name, if is a boy then she will. i guess whatever divine creature in the sky didn’t enjoyed her lying to a six years old, and then i ended up ��eating” my twin. any opportunity, my mom tells this story and she says “you ate my boy!!”. sukuna aah story.

what’s something you’ve always wanted to do but maybe been to scared to do?

to live by myself, actually. not in a house setting way, i actually mean i fear doing things by myself, i avoid wasting my money with me or going out alone. i thrive on having company, that’s why i like to interact with people.

do you believe in ghosts and/or aliens?

yes for both! all the woman in my family could be considered mediums, specially my mom. we have always been followed by weird things. we have lived in three houses, the first one had a weird atmosphere to it, in the dark. the second one was were i grow up, constant nightmares, one person died and showed up demonically to two people, it scares me to be anywhere there, to look somewhere for too long and know you will see something. my current house, though, it’s fucking creepy as well and unfortunately i’m the most affected one. i’ve seen a girl on my siblings bed, something white jumping towards me, a black shadow following me, sounds of chains, screaming, footsteps and yet, the second one scares me the most. for aliens i believe in them, astronomy is my favorite thing in the world, my dad and i use our telescopes to see the astros and keep saying “you see that? that’s an ovni, for sure.”

are you a spiritual person?

i don’t know, my parents have never imposed religion on me, so i learned for myself. have always believed in the universe, i studied lots of religion and when i found all those similarities i started to believe that there is something that is behind all of this, and it presents itself for others with different names and faces.

what’s one thing you’re proud of yourself for?

i’m proud of mini me, she was really pure and really smart. i learned english by myself when i was seven years old, i learned of astronomy, arrows and bows, of the history of the world, to write and to read and to talk freely of what i think. gosh, she was amazing.

what’s one thing that never fails to make you happy/happier?

as of later, you guys. anytime i see an ask, a comment, a follower, serotonin is released. and also music, to sing and dance when the emotions are too much. my favorite song is a nova vida, by carter burwell.

how many tabs do you have open right now?

110 on safari and if asking about apps, it’s 6.

any bad habits?

bed rotting, and i used to smke, but it’s been a long time, yay!

[tomorrowusa]

Pro-Putin stooges in the West are trying to rile up public opinion by claiming that aid to Ukraine will provoke World War III.

In fact, it is Putin who already considers himself at war with the West. His agents have been assassinating critics in the West since the 2000s. And since his illegal invasion of Ukraine, Putin's agents have engaged in acts of sabotage and terrorism in NATO countries.

The attempt to assassinate German arms executive Armin Papperger is just the latest blatant act of aggression by Russia.

The plot was one of a series of Russian plans to assassinate defense industry executives across Europe who were supporting Ukraine’s war effort, these sources said. The plan to kill Armin Papperger, a white-haired goliath who has led the German manufacturing charge in support of Kyiv, was the most mature. When the Americans learned of the effort, they informed Germany, whose security services were then able to protect Papperger and foil the plot. A high-level German government official confirmed that Berlin was warned about the plot by the US. For more than six months, Russia has been carrying out a sabotage campaign across Europe, largely by proxy. It has recruited local amateurs for everything from arson attacks on warehouses linked to arms for Ukraine to petty acts of vandalism — all designed to stymie the flow of weapons from the West to Ukraine and blunt public support for Kyiv. But the intelligence suggesting that Russia was willing to assassinate private citizens underlined to Western officials just how far Moscow was willing to go in a parallel shadow war it is waging across the west. Papperger was an obvious target: His company, Rheinmetall, is the largest and most successful German manufacturer of the vital 155mm artillery shells that have become the make-or-break weapon in Ukraine’s grinding war of attrition. The company is opening an armored vehicle plant inside of Ukraine in the coming weeks, an effort that one source familiar with the intelligence said was deeply concerning to Russia.

People constantly pooping in their pants worrying about World War III have probably forgotten that World War II was triggered by people endlessly trying to placate Hitler.

As a practical matter, consider that Putin's "3-day special operation" is now 866 days behind schedule. At the time the invasion began he had the second most powerful military in the world; he now has the second most powerful military in Ukraine.

Even before Western countries responded to the invasion with additional arms to Ukraine, resourceful local farmers were a factor in thwarting Putin's planned conquest.

Putin was not capable of defeating Ukrainian farmers in 2022 and he's even less capable of defeating NATO in 2024.

Ignore bullshit scares from Russian bots or MAGA weasels. Russia produces second-rate military equipment which is operated by poorly trained personnel who are little more than cannon fodder.

[lyncotek]

Introduction to Signage The visual representation of a brand is greatly influenced by signage. Branding Signages is seen everywhere, subtly conveying signals to potential clients on storefronts and business interiors. Physical branding through signage is still important in this digital age of online marketing dominance.

Importance of Branding Signages: Enhancing Brand Visibility: The Significance of Branding Though they draw notice and entice potential buyers, branding signage serves as silent salespeople. Foot traffic and brand identification can be greatly increased by carefully placing well-designed signage.

Creating Brand Identity: In order to establish a strong brand identity, branding must be consistent across all channels. A brand’s promises, beliefs, and personality are all tangibly represented by its signage. Customers’ trust is strengthened and brand recall is reinforced.

Types of Branding Signages: Exterior Signages: Outdoor banners, billboards, and storefront signs are examples of exterior signage. The first point of contact between a brand and its audience is these signages. They ought to be eye-catching, educational, and authentically represent the essence of the brand.

Interior Signages: Directional signs, window displays, and wall graphics are examples of interior signage in a store or office. They serve as a customer’s guide, improve the atmosphere, and reaffirm company messaging.

Factors Influencing Signage Effectiveness Design: A signage’s design should elicit the intended emotional response from the viewer while being consistent with the brand’s visual identity. Signage that has an impact is mostly dependent on elements like color, font, and imagery.

Placement: Optimal visibility and exposure are ensured by strategic placement. Whether it’s within a retail establishment or on a busy street, signs should be positioned where the target audience can see them easily.

Visibility: A sign’s efficacy depends on its visibility. Its visibility is influenced by various elements, particularly in busy or poorly light areas. These elements include size, contrast, and illumination.

Apple: Minimalist Storefronts The luxury image of Apple is widely associated with its sleek, backlit Apple logos and minimalist shops. These signs invite onlookers inside by exuding an air of luxury and sophistication.

Measuring Signage Impact Customer Surveys Customer comments on the brand’s signage can give important information about how successful the signage is as well as where it needs to be improved.

Sales Analysis: To gauge the effect of new signage on foot traffic, conversion rates, and overall income, sales data from both before and after implementation should be analyzed.

Future Trends in Signage: It is anticipated that interactive and digital signage will proliferate as technology develops. Customer engagement and brand connection will be further improved by augmented reality (AR) and personalized signage experiences.

Conclusion Finally, it should be noted that branding signage has a big impact on how consumers perceive brands and their success. Businesses may create memorable brand experiences that resonate with their target audience by strategically utilizing design, positioning, and visibility.

FAQs 1. How can I ensure my signage stands out amidst competition? By focusing on unique design elements, bold messaging, and strategic placement, you can make your signage more attention-grabbing.

2. Are there any regulations I need to consider when designing exterior signages? Yes, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with local zoning laws and regulations governing signage size, placement, and illumination.

3. What role does signage play in building brand trust? Signages act as physical representations of a brand’s promises and values, contributing to brand consistency and credibility.

4. How often should I update my branding signages? It’s advisable to periodically refresh your signages to reflect any changes in branding, messaging, or design trends.

5. Can signages help improve customer navigation within a store? Yes, well-designed directional signages can enhance the customer experience by making it easier for them to navigate through your store.

[arfactoringcompanies]

10 Signs Your Business Needs Account Factoring

Is cash flow tight? Find out if account factoring is the solution to support your business's growth and financial health.

[kristikinzel12]

Why These Are the Best Crypto Coins to Buy Now — Expert Top Picks for July 2024

The cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, offering investors a diverse range of options in 2024. This article examines five cryptocurrencies that have recently garnered attention in the digital asset space. Each of these coins offers unique features, ranging from innovative virtual reality platforms to cutting-edge decentralized finance solutions. The article highlights why these particular cryptocurrencies may be worth considering, discussing their current developments, market positions, and potential for growth. Factors such as technological innovation, community support, and real-world applications are emphasized as key drivers of their potential value.

Best Coins to Buy in 2024

Each of these coins brings something special to the table, from revolutionary VR platforms to decentralized finance solutions. Let’s take a closer look at the coins that are making waves:

5thScape (5SCAPE)

Axmint (AXM)

Uniswap (UNI)

Shiba Inu Coin (SHIB)

Dogecoin (DOGE)

As we explore their potential, it becomes clear why they’re considered top investment options in today’s crypto market.

1. 5thScape (5SCAPE)

5thScape has quickly risen to prominence as a leading VR platform, offering a comprehensive ecosystem that includes games, movies, education, and VR devices. Its token, 5SCAPE, has captured the attention of investors and tech enthusiasts alike.

Why Buy Now:

5thScape is nearing its $7 million token pre-sale goal, a clear indicator of strong investor confidence. The platform’s ambitious plans to revolutionize AR and VR technology are particularly noteworthy. By integrating various VR experiences with a focus on education and medical training, 5thScape is poised to significantly impact multiple industries. The company’s commitment to transparency and security further solidifies its position as a trustworthy investment.

Potential:

With the increasing adoption of VR technology, 5thScape is well-positioned for substantial growth. Early investors could benefit significantly as the platform continues to expand and innovate.

2. Axmint (AXM)

AXM, the native token of Axmachine Blockchain Services, is positioned as the network currency of the Axmint Ecosystem. The recent burning of 20% of AXM tokens marks a pivotal moment in the token’s journey.

Why Buy Now:

The AXM Token Presale provides an exciting opportunity for early investors to participate in this revolutionary project. Secure your AXM tokens on the Polygon, Avalanche, and Arbitrum networks.

The AXM presale is selling out fast, with the token available at just USD 0.4. The listing price will be 1 to 2 USD/AXM, which is a remarkable feat. In essence, AXM token investors are already making decent profits while the presale is going on. Partnered with Indian UPI via Axmpay, AXM token is verified by CMC, CG, Binance, Bitget, and BSCScan.

Potential:

As blockchain technology continues to evolve, Axmint scalability and efficiency offer a competitive edge. Investing in AXM now provides the opportunity to be part of a promising project with a solid foundation and potential for significant growth

3. Uniswap (UNI)

Uniswap is a decentralized exchange (DEX) that allows users to trade cryptocurrencies directly from their wallets. The platform’s governance token, UNI, plays a key role in its decentralized ecosystem.

Why Buy Now:

Uniswap has established itself as a leader in the DeFi space, with a user-friendly interface and a wide range of supported tokens. The platform’s continued innovation, including the recent launch of Uniswap V3, enhances its functionality and appeal. UNI token holders also benefit from governance rights, allowing them to shape the platform’s future.

Potential:

The growth of DeFi shows no signs of slowing down, and Uniswap’s position as a leading DEX ensures its relevance in the market. As more users and projects flock to DeFi, Uniswap and its UNI token are likely to see increased demand and value.

4. Shiba Inu Coin (SHIB)

Shiba Inu Coin (SHIB) started as a meme coin but has evolved into a vibrant ecosystem with its own decentralized exchange, ShibaSwap. The project’s strong community and ambitious roadmap make it more than just a joke.

Why Buy Now:

Shiba Inu’s recent developments, including the launch of ShibaSwap and plans for a layer-2 solution called Shibarium, demonstrate its commitment to growth and innovation. The coin’s passionate community and frequent updates keep it in the spotlight, attracting new investors.

Potential:

While SHIB’s journey from meme coin to a legitimate project is impressive, its future growth depends on continued innovation and adoption. Investing in SHIB now could be a strategic move as the project matures and expands its offerings.

5. Dogecoin (DOGE)

Dogecoin, originally created as a joke, has become a prominent cryptocurrency thanks to its active community and high-profile endorsements, including support from Elon Musk.

Why Buy Now:

Dogecoin’s widespread recognition and strong community support make it a unique investment opportunity. The coin’s use in various charitable initiatives and its acceptance by certain merchants for payments highlight its practical applications.

Potential:

Dogecoin’s potential lies in its community-driven nature and the possibility of broader adoption. As more people and businesses recognize its value, DOGE could see substantial growth.

Conclusion

Selecting the best cryptocurrencies to buy now involves evaluating their innovation, market potential, and community support. Among the highlighted coins, Axmint stands out as a particularly compelling investment. Investing in 5thScape, alongside other promising coins like 5TH Scape, Axmint, Uniswap, Shiba Inu Coin, and Dogecoin, can enhance your portfolio and maximize returns. Stay informed and strategic to capitalize on these exciting opportunities in the cryptocurrency market.

Website | Twitter | Telegram | Explorer

[mariacallous]

Owners of Spotify's soon-to-be-bricked Car Thing device are begging the company to open source the gadgets to save some the landfill. Spotify hasn't responded to pleas to salvage the hardware, which was originally intended to connect to car dashboards and auxiliary outlets to enable drivers to listen to and navigate Spotify.

Spotify announced this week that it's bricking all purchased Car Things on December 9 and not offering refunds or trade-in options. On a support page, Spotify says:

We're discontinuing Car Thing as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline our product offerings. We understand it may be disappointing, but this decision allows us to focus on developing new features and enhancements that will ultimately provide a better experience to all Spotify users.

Spotify has no further guidance for device owners beyond asking them to reset the device to factory settings and “safely” get rid of the bricked gadget by “following local electronic waste guidelines.”

The company also said that it doesn’t plan to release a follow-up to the Car Thing.

Early Demise

Car Thing came out to limited subscribers in October 2021 before releasing to the general public in February 2022.

In its Q2 2022 earnings report released in July, Spotify revealed that it stopped making Car Things. In a chat with TechCrunch, it cited “several factors, including product demand and supply chain issues.” A Spotify rep also told the publication that the devices would continue to “perform as intended,” but that was apparently a temporary situation.

Halted production was a warning sign that Car Thing was in peril. However, at that time, Spotify also cut the device’s price from $90 to $50, which could have encouraged people to buy a device that would be useless a few years later.

Car Thing's usefulness was always dubious, though. The device has a 4-inch touchscreen and knob for easy navigation, as well as support for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and voice control. But it also required users to subscribe to Spotify Premium, which starts at $11 per month. Worse, Car Thing requires a phone using data or Wi-Fi connected via Bluetooth in order to work, making the Thing seem redundant.

In its Q1 2022 report, Spotify said that quitting Car Thing hurt gross margins and that it took a 31 million euro (about $31.4 million at the time) hit on the venture.

Open Source Pleas

Spotify's announcement has sent some Car Thing owners to online forums to share their disappointment with Spotify and beg the company to open source the device instead of dooming it for recycling centers at best. As of this writing, there are more than 50 posts on the Spotify Community forums showing concern about the discontinuation, with many demanding a refund and/or calling for open sourcing. There are similar discussions happening elsewhere online, like on Reddit, where users have used phrases like “entirely unacceptable” to describe the news.

A Spotify Community member going by AaronMickDee, for example, said:

I'd rather not just dispose of the device. I think there is a community that would love the idea of having a device we can customize and use for other uses other than a song playback device. Would Spotify be willing to maybe unlock the system and allow users to write/flash 3rd party firmware to the device?

A Spotify spokesperson declined to answer Ars' questions about why Car Thing isn't being open sourced and concerns around e-waste and wasted money.

Instead, a company rep told Ars, in part: “The goal of our Car Thing exploration in the US was to learn more about how people listen in the car. In July 2022, we announced we’d stop further production and now it’s time to say goodbye to the devices entirely.” I followed up with Spotify's rep to ask again about making the device open source but didn't hear back.

At this point, encouraging customers to waste nearly $100 on a soon-obsolete device hasn't resulted in any groundbreaking innovations or lessons around “how people listen in the car.” In their initial response, Spotify's rep pointed me to a Spotify site that searches Spotify's newsroom for “how to listen to Spotify in the car.” One of the top posts is from 2019 and states that “if your car has an AUX or USB socket, using a cable is probably one of the fastest ways to connect by using your phone.”

As for Spotify, using customer dollars for company-serving learning experiences isn't the best business plan. And for regular users, it's best to avoid investing in an unproven hardware venture from a software company.

As Redditor Wemie1420 put it:

Doesn’t feel great that there is literally no alternative other than trashing it. Feels like we’re being punished for supporting them. Dissuades me from buying anything Spotify puts out in the future. I feel like there would be some way to approach this without being like, ‘yeah we’re done. Just throw it out it’s a waste of money now.’

[shuchu]

I just hope people can respect that this choice was his to make, that it was something he put thought into for a long time, not by any outside factors bc I'm already seeing some ppl be stupid and blaming the company thinking it's the reason he's going smh

oh definitely, 100%

i agree that people shouldn't put the blame on the company because mysta specifically mentioned that he's leaving on his terms. we don't know the facts but the company and the way they manage their talents may have had an impact on his decision to leave. but, that doesn't make it right for people to blame the company. people need to realise that we're fans, we're not part of the company. therefore, we have absolutely no clue what's going on behind the scenes.

i only talked about management and the company because mysta hinted about it with his talk regarding AR live. i will speculate but i won't blame the company and respect mysta's decision. you can't really control what other people do, so like you, i just hope that they can respect his decision

[sofiaalice]

Discovering Successful Perfume Company Ideas in Canada

Introduction

In the dynamic world of fragrance, the Canadian market has emerged as a promising arena for perfume companies seeking growth and success. Amidst the myriad of factors contributing to a brand's triumph, the design and presentation of perfume boxes play a pivotal role in captivating consumers. This article delves into the realm of "custom perfume boxes in Canada," exploring innovative ideas to set your brand apart and achieve lasting success.

The Significance of Perfume Boxes

The packaging of a perfume is more than just a protective cover; it's a visual representation of the brand, creating a lasting impression on consumers. In Canada's diverse and discerning market, crafting unique and eye-catching perfume boxes is a crucial element in establishing brand identity and attracting potential customers.

Keyword Utilization:

Understanding the importance of strategic keyword use is vital for maximizing visibility. Throughout this article, the term "perfume boxes in Canada" will be incorporated organically, ensuring that search engines recognize and index the content for individuals seeking insights into this specific niche.

Innovative Materials and Eco-Friendly Solutions

As consumers in Canada increasingly prioritize sustainability, incorporating eco-friendly materials into perfume box designs can be a game-changer. Highlighting biodegradable options, recycled materials, or even plant-based packaging within the context of "perfume boxes in Canada" can resonate with environmentally conscious consumers.

Customization for Targeted Appeal

Personalization is key when addressing the diverse preferences of Canadian consumers. Exploring customization options, such as themed boxes for specific seasons or events, allows perfume companies to connect with their audience on a deeper level. Integrating the term "perfume boxes in Canada" in this context emphasizes the tailored approach to cater to the unique tastes of Canadian customers.

Collaborations with Canadian Artists

To infuse a sense of local identity into perfume brands, collaborations with Canadian artists can provide a distinctive edge. Incorporating indigenous artwork or partnering with renowned Canadian designers aligns the product with the cultural fabric of the nation. This strategy not only strengthens the brand's connection with the local audience but also enhances the marketability of "perfume boxes in Canada."

Interactive Packaging Experiences:

In the digital age, engaging consumers goes beyond the physical product. Augmented reality (AR) or QR code features on perfume boxes can create interactive experiences. This innovative approach enhances consumer engagement and provides an opportunity to tell the brand story. Such technological integrations within the scope of "perfume boxes in Canada" can elevate the overall consumer experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the world of perfume boxes in Canada offers ample opportunities for brands to thrive through strategic approaches. By embracing eco-friendly solutions, customization, local collaborations, and interactive packaging experiences, perfume companies can capture the attention and loyalty of the discerning Canadian market. It's not just about protecting the fragrance within; it's about creating an unforgettable visual and sensory experience that resonates with consumers.